When is the last time you checked your HVAC system? Homeowners barely notice it until it breaks, leaving them sweating buckets in the summer, shivering in the winter, and scrambling to finance a costly repair. When you select an air conditioner for your house, you're investing in something that'll last a decade or longer - and choosing correctly means it'll operate at its peak for even longer. If your unit has been in place for ten years, it may be time to replace it. Updating your HVAC system represents a significant time and financial commitment, but it will pay off in the long run in terms of air quality and health for your family. Here are some of the main reasons why you should replace your air conditioner every ten years.
Utility bills
While it's typical to pay more for utilities in the summer when you're attempting to keep your house cool, your bill shouldn't be much higher than it was the previous month. However, if you see an increase in your energy bills, it's a good idea to have a specialist look at your HVAC system to see if anything is wrong. If major repairs are required, you may be better off investing in a complete replacement to improve your home's efficiency.
Air quality
Your air conditioner will lose its ability to filter air effectively after a decade of running. It is important to maintain your air quality as long as possible with preventative measures such as annual maintenance visits and changing your filter regularly. Additionally, new technology such as UV lights for HVAC systems can kill bacteria and prevent debris from building up in your unit, preventing it from becoming clogged. However, your air conditioner is unlikely to continue to provide the same level of air quality ten years after you purchased it.
Cooling efficiency
Your air conditioner's main purpose is to keep your home's air cool, comfortable, and humidity-free. As your air conditioner ages, its cooling speed slows down from wear and tear. While professional repairs can help, there comes a time when it's better to buy a new unit with better cooling capabilities rather than spending money on repairs.
Repairs are extensive (and expensive)
Over time, your air conditioner will require maintenance and parts replacement. As long as it doesn't happen more than once a year, that's normal. However, as your device ages and becomes more obsolete, it will become more difficult to locate replacement parts - and more costly to have it serviced. If you're constantly having to repair or maintain your air conditioner, it might be time to consider purchasing a new unit.


Shares of the AI-based lending platform Upstart (
NASDAQ: UPST) have dropped over 93% from its 52-week high. Multiple headwinds are impacting its business and stock price. However, what stands out is the positive signal from hedge fund managers, who have been increasing their exposure to UPST stock.
Per TipRanks’ Hedge Fund Trading Activity tool, hedge fund managers have raised their holdings in UPST stock by 2.4 million shares in the last quarter.
Looking at hedge fund activity, four hedge fund managers, including Bridgewater Associates’ Ray Dalio, have started a new position in UPST stock.
Meanwhile, Vulcan Value Partners’ C.T Fitzpatrick increased the holdings in UPST stock. However, Eos Focused Equity Management’s Steven M. Friedman & Brian D. Young closed their position in UPST stock.
Hedge funds accumulating UPST stock is a positive signal. However, analysts’ neutral stance adds uncertainty over the recovery.
Analysts Maintain a Hold Stance
UPST stock has received two Buy, seven Hold, and five Sell recommendations for a Hold rating consensus. Meanwhile, the average Upstart price target of $33.04 implies 26.6% upside potential to current levels.
It is worth mentioning that higher loan pricing amid tightening of the monetary policy, increased funding costs, delinquencies, and a decline in the number of products getting sent to the ABS (asset-backed securities) market are adversely impacting UPST’s business.
Citing these challenges, Upstart’s management recently lowered Q2 revenue guidance. UPST expects Q2 revenue to be $228 million, down from its previous guidance of $295 to $305 million.
Upstart’s CEO, Dave Girouard, stated that banks and capital market participants have turned cautious amid a weak macro environment. This has led to funding constraints in the market. Moreover, UPST’s attempt to convert on-balance sheet loans to cash resulted in losses as increasing interest rates led to discount selling.
In response to UPST’s reduced guidance, Wedbush analyst David Chiaverini stated that “we expect originations to be down ~20% in 2Q to $3.6 billion vs. our prior forecast of down ~10% to $4.1 billion.”
Chiaverini maintains his bearish stance on UPST stock and expects UPST “to squeeze as much profitability as possible out of each funded loan.” The analyst believes this will drive loan pricing and lead to a “higher take rate along with a lower conversion rate.”
Bottom Line
Hedge funds accumulating UPST stock is a positive indicator. However, the company is facing multiple challenges, including funding constraints, which were a key growth catalyst for UPST. The increase in the number of headwinds may stall the recovery in the short term.


Post-transcriptional regulation of RNAs is critical to the diverse range of cellular processes. The volume of functional genomic data focusing on post-transcriptional regulation logics continues to grow in recent years. In the current database version, POSTAR2 (http://lulab.life.tsinghua.edu.cn/postar), we included the following new features and data: updated ∼500 CLIP-seq datasets (∼1200 CLIP-seq datasets in total) from six species, including human, mouse, fly, worm, Arabidopsis and yeast; added a new module 'Translatome', which is derived from Ribo-seq datasets and contains ∼36 million open reading frames (ORFs) in the genomes from the six species; updated and unified post-transcriptional regulation and variation data. Finally, we improved web interfaces for searching and visualizing protein-RNA interactions with multi-layer information. Meanwhile, we also merged our CLIPdb database into POSTAR2. POSTAR2 will help researchers investigate the post-transcriptional regulatory logics coordinated by RNA-binding proteins and translational landscape of cellular RNAs.


Abstract
Evidence has been developing about the potential analgesic effects of wound dressings. Several theories have been formulated as to how a dressing placed over a wound might contribute to pain relief. This paper reviews these potential mechanisms. In all, 10 are discussed here, most of which will probably overlap, leading to a high degree of complexity and interdependence. The psychological components inherent in the biopsychosocial model of pain make a key contribution to any analgesic effects that occur following dressing application. The 10 mechanisms identified in this paper will need significant and rigorous testing to determine which, if any, can be confirmed as analgesic.


There are four bullet points (paragraph 185) in Keeping Children Safe in Education (DfE, 2021) which focus on the additional safeguarding vulnerabilities of and risks for children with SEND.
We need to remember that these are a starting point and reminders, not the whole story; to ensure the safeguarding of some of our most vulnerable children we need to look beyond these headlines.
Effective safeguarding is dependent on knowing and listening to our children as individuals. Seeing children with SEND as a single group may cause us to miss the wide variety of difficulties and risks they face. As with any group of children we need to be aware of their individual strengths, needs and vulnerabilities.
To make assumptions about the additional risks they face and presume that they are the same for all children with SEND would be as dangerous as ignoring them entirely. Let’s look now at the four bullet points.
1, Communication barriers and difficulties in managing or reporting these challenges
It is important that a child’s voice is heard and listened to, regardless of how it is expressed. Many children with SEND have communication difficulties. Any child who is dependent on others to support them to express their needs is at risk of being misinterpreted or silenced.
This is a particular issue as schools and parents often need to advocate for children, explaining and supporting their communications with other practitioners, especially when children use alternative communications strategies or devices.
Likewise there are risks for children with SEND who present as verbal and articulate but who may not fully understand the language they use or how it may be interpreted by others.
Many children with SEND need additional time to both articulate their thoughts and process what is being said to them. Too often the need for speed in our safeguarding procedures can silence these children.
We need to remember that not all communication is verbal. Behaviour is communication, particularly when we lack or cannot use words to express our needs or worries. Changes in behaviour are a key indicator of a safeguarding need. All changes in a child’s behaviour should be considered and questioned. Too often behaviours are considered part of a child’s SEND presentation and not considered as a possible safeguarding indicator.
2, Children being more prone to peer group isolation or bullying (including prejudice-based bullying) than other children
SEND children’s difficulties with communication and interaction, as well as social, emotional, mental health and/or physical needs and difficulties, can mean that they can struggle to understand, form and maintain social relationships.
They may misunderstand socially appropriate behaviour and conventions – both in themselves and others. Their learning, behavioural and physical needs may make them appear different. Further, this can be exacerbated by the support they receive in school causing them to stand out from their peers.
Their desire for friendship combined with poor social understanding can mean that these children are easier to engage in inappropriate behaviour. This can make children with SEND more vulnerable to bullying, abuse and risks of exploitation, both in the physical and online worlds.
Many with SEND struggle with face-to-face interactions, so online interactions can seem easier to manage – there is time to think before responding, you don’t have to deal with information from facial expressions or body language, there are clear topics for interaction. Yet they can lack the understanding to differentiate between friendship and bullying.
These difficulties can be increased where children struggle to differentiate between fact and fiction. Where a relationship is formed within a computer game, it can be hard for a child to identify or understand when there is a move beyond the game. That activities that might be acceptable, if not age-appropriate, within the game are not acceptable within the real world.
Children may act without understanding the implications of their actions and can be incited to inappropriate or even dangerous behaviour leading to involvement in violence, child criminal exploitation, sexualised behaviour (including the sending and sharing of nudes and semi-nudes) and vulnerability to radicalisation. Many perpetrators deliberately target these children.
3, Assumptions that indicators of possible abuse such as behaviour, mood and injury relate to the child’s condition without further exploration
Injury and changes in behaviour and mood are key indicators of abuse. Yet too often for children with SEND these are assumed to be related to their SEN or disability and so disregarded without further exploration.
Any injury in a non-mobile baby or child is an immediate red flag. If a child cannot move, any injury to them is likely to be caused by someone else. Equally because a child has regular meltdowns and throws themselves about or has seizures where they can injure themselves, does not mean that their injuries are not caused by someone else. Further, being dependent on physical assistance and possibly intimate care reduces a child’s ability and confidence to resist or avoid abuse.
Mental health difficulties can co-occur with many forms of SEND. Keeping Children Safe in Education highlights that mental health difficulties, including self-harm, can be an indicator of abuse. This must be considered for those with SEND, particularly where there is a change in behaviour. However often a lack of continuity of care means that these changes go unnoticed, are disregarded or simply not questioned. They are seen as part of the SEND condition and nothing more.
So that we do not allow their SEND, or our perception of their SEND to mask their communication of abuse, we must keep asking ourselves the question “How would we regard a child’s behaviour or injury if they did not have special needs?”
4, The potential for children with SEND or certain medical conditions being disproportionally impacted by behaviours such as bullying, without outwardly showing any signs
Not only are SEND children disproportionally impacted, a focus on their age, rather than their needs can mask this. An underlying key concept when considering safeguarding harms, impacts and risks is to compare a child to another similar child. Too often this is taken to mean a child of the same age, rather than at the same developmental stage.
For children with SEND, not only do we need to consider this for ourselves, but we need to be able to explain what a similar child is like to other practitioners. Many of us working with children with SEND, forget how much specialist knowledge we hold and use in our work without thinking and assume others share this.
This is particularly true for children with non-visible needs and disabilities (e.g. autism, ADHD, speech and language difficulties). This includes explaining that special needs are a continuum and not all children with a particular difficulty will behave in the same way or have the same needs.
We need to be clear about the impact of and changes in behaviour for this child and be clear in our communications about this to other practitioners.
Beyond KCSIE: Working with parents
Effective working with families is key to support the safeguarding of children with SEND. There is a real dichotomy here. Often when we are working closely with families, we become emotionally involved and engaged in their difficulties, so there is a danger that our compassion and understanding for parents can blind us to their children’s safeguarding risks and needs.
This can lead to a professional reluctance to make judgements about concerning aspects of parenting. We need to remember that abuse perpetrators, including parents, groom the adults around them, including the professionals working with their children. Further the risks of disguised compliance are not reduced by being the parent of a child with SEND.
At the same time, professionals need to be open to listening to parents, including and often particularly when their perception of their child varies from that of professionals. Children will behave differently at home, but often this is disregarded. Parents’ descriptions of their children’s behaviour can lead to safeguarding concerns and judgements about parenting, rather than being seen as key information about how to support a child.
Beyond KCSIE: Neglect
Among the additional risks to children with SEND is an increased vulnerability to neglect. Neglect is always hard to identify and evidence, particularly for those with SEND. We need to be aware of issues with access to and engagement with services, including appropriate equipment and responses to medical needs, and concerns about physical interventions and behaviour modification. Equally, the lack of availability and difficulties in accessing services can mean that children and/or their parents do not complain or question professionals as they fear they will lose the limited services they have. Further, parents may have their own needs which require support.
Conclusion
The concept that “the welfare of the child is paramount” must underlie all our work with children, including those with SEND. To reduce their vulnerabilities we need to remember that children with SEND are individuals with different needs and facing different risks, not a single group. This requires us to see beyond a child’s SEND to understand, question and evaluate the challenges and risks they are experiencing.
Sara Alston is an experienced SENCO and safeguarding lead who also works as a SEND, inclusion and safeguarding consultant and trainer. Visit www.seainclusion.co.uk . Read her previous articles for Headteacher Update via https://bit.ly/htu-alsto n
Further information & resources


Fire Detection Euralarm publishes new guidance on maintenance of extinguishing systems
The Extinguishing Section of Euralarm has published a new guidance document on the maintenance of extinguishing systems/equipment controlled by electronic detection systems.
Unlike a production tool, a fire protection system is on operational standby and is only activated in the event of a fire. Some faults may appear without being detectable by a non-specialist operator. This is why it is necessary to carry out regular maintenance visits by specialists to confirm the level of performance of the installation by functional tests.
Beyond technical verification of the correct functioning of the system, maintenance must also include: Preventative replacement of critical components that may degrade over time Adapting the extinguishing installation to changes in risks and protected premises Keep the extinguishing installation in conformity with the rules/standards/regulations in force Check the tightness of the protected enclosure to ensure it is capable of retaining the extinguishing agent for a specified period of time, normally at least 10 minutes.
It is the responsibility of the user/owner to ensure staff safety, but also the safety of equipment for the sustainability of the business. However, visual inspection and maintenance by users isn’t sufficient – there must be inspection and maintenance by professional contractors, because, by entrusting this service to a specialist, users/owners are ensuring the correct level of competence is applied to the system, while remaining focused on their business.
The aim of the guidance document is to make all users with an extinguishing system in their premises or users planning to install one, aware of the importance of maintenance and continuous preventative measures for the constant performance and availability of the systems in case of fires. The correct performance of extinguishing systems is essential to quickly extinguish a fire and protect human life.
Related Topics


Background: The lifespan for patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is ~3 to 5 years from the time of onset, and the mortality rate is 50% within 30 months of symptom onset. In edaravone pivotal Study 19 in ALS patients, intravenous (IV) edaravone was associated with significantly less functional decline compared with placebo.
Objective: To assess the effects of IV edaravone on survival and additional milestone events in Study 19.
Approach: Post hoc analysis of Study 19, which included a 24-week double-blind period (edaravone vs placebo) followed by a 24-week open-label period with all patients receiving IV edaravone (ie, edaravone-edaravone [EE] vs placebo-edaravone [PE] groups). Survival analyses were conducted of the occurrence of milestone events, including death, tracheostomy, permanent assisted ventilation (PAV), and hospitalization due to ALS progression.
Results: There were no deaths during the double-blind period in Study 19. During the 24-week open-label period there were 2 deaths in the EE group receiving edaravone for 12 months and 4 in the PE group receiving edaravone after being on placebo. Survival analysis indicated that the hazard ratio (HR) for death was 0.48 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.08-2.73) P=.4059 for the EE group vs the PE group. Similarly, survival analysis of the cumulative occurrence of death, tracheostomy, or PAV revealed a HR=0.44 (95% CI, 0.10-1.81), P=.2523. The addition of hospitalization to the survival analysis (ie, cumulative occurrence of death, tracheostomy, PAV, or hospitalization) demonstrated a 53% risk reduction in these events, which was statistically significant, with HR=0.47 (95% CI, 0.25-0.88), P=.0189.
Conclusions: This analysis may indicate that early intervention with IV edaravone was associated with significant reduction in the combined endpoint of cumulative occurrence of death, tracheostomy, PAV, and hospitalization in patients with ALS. Further research is recommended to confirm these findings.


In letter ruling ST 21-0003, the Illinois Department of Revenue considered sales made by a nonprofit organization that previously qualified for the isolated or occasional sale exemption to the Retailers’ Occupation Tax. The Organization requested guidance concerning whether the exemption would apply if it made sales through a marketplace facilitator. The Department responded that beginning January 1, 2021, a marketplace facilitator is considered to be a retailer engaged in the occupation of selling at retail for purposes of the Retailers’ Occupation Tax if it exceeds the sales or transactions threshold. The Department concluded that under the new rules, a marketplace is a location held out to the public as being habitually engaged in the selling of tangible personal property. Therefore, sales made on a marketplace would not be considered “occasional” sales. If the marketplace facilitator meets one of the two thresholds it would be liable for collecting and remitting all applicable tax and the occasional sales exemption will not apply.


West Tenth Launches the #TisHerSeason Pledge, an initiative to bring equitable economic recovery to women-owned businesses. October 20, 2021 - The
Over the last two years, women have endured unequal access to resources, a widening wage gap, an increased demand in domestic responsibilities, and over two million women had to leave the workforce. The pandemic accelerated trends women have long fought to reverse, underscoring the need for a gender-responsive recovery.
“Generations of women entrepreneurs have been set back by the disproportionate negative impacts we have faced during the pandemic," shared Lyn Johnson, co-founder of West Tenth and #TisHerSeason Pledge. "We need to bring gender equality to the core of the recovery effort and the forefront of consumers' minds this holiday season.”
The #TisHerSeason pledge launches on National Business Women’s Week®, and will mobilize communities just in time for Women's Entrepreneurship Day in November and the holiday shopping season ahead. The signing of the Pledge is the cornerstone of the initiative, which includes tools for female entrepreneurs, the beginning of many conversations around challenges facing women in business, and resources to shift spending habits with an innovative guide to shopping women-owned products and services: everything from made-from-scratch pies and sweet treats by local bakers, catering services; to unique handcrafted gifts, fresh flowers, festive home-decor, and other holiday essentials.


Title Date of Submission
Spring 2013
Academic Program
Photography
Project Advisor 1
Larry Fink
Abstract/Artist's Statement
I have spent my time at Bard working to develop what I once assumed were two entirely disconnected aspects of myself. I viewed my two majors, Biology and Photography, as polar opposites. That is, until my scientific concerns expanded to the realms of environmentalism and agriculture. Following my first visit to Grazin’ farm-to-table restaurant, my interest in sustainable farm practices quickly evolved into passionate participation. In fact, my excitement landed me a job as a server at Grazin’. I was thus allowed the perfect opportunity to channel my enthusiasm productively in support of these farms.
As a photographer, I was anxious to relate to this newfound interest in a visual manner. However, I soon discovered that the idyllic pastoral landscapes from which I assumed my food originated were not necessarily derived from first-hand experience. The realization of my own ignorance put this image into question and ignited a new motivation to see the truth for myself. I began to wonder: are these farms as beautiful and poetic as I imagine?
This question and my inherent environmental curiosity prompted me to visit non-conventional farms throughout the eastern U.S. I was on a mission to satisfy my hunger for visual evidence. Most importantly, I hoped to confirm the veracity of the images I associate with labels such as “organic,” “biodynamic,” and of course, “free-range.”
The title
Free Range refers not only to the food produced on these farms, but also to the candid nature of my encounters with farmers. A ubiquitous aura of pride characterized the farmers whose land and animals I photographed. The farmers seemed grateful for the chance to share with me the source of their pride and livelihood, and I took advantage of this opportunity to roam the grounds freely with my camera. This freedom led me to appreciate the sights the way I imagine the playful livestock and hardworking farmers do themselves.
These scenes are ever-changing as the farms’ products are grown and harvested. However, the photographic medium has allowed me to preserve moments of my exploration visually. I hope you will take advantage of your own free range while experiencing these photographs.
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Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License. Recommended Citation
Dunn, Stephanie Nicole, "Free Range" (2013).
Senior Projects Spring 2013. 293. https://digitalcommons.bard.edu/senproj_s2013/293
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The past few years have seen a shift in how businesses see the progression and career pathways of young upcoming talent, particularly in more specialist fields and industries.
Whilst a decade ago the expectation was that young people would go to university, get a degree and enter the workforce at one singular entry point, many businesses rely not only on degrees and academic attainment but also apprenticeship providers to provide a diverse pool of talent.
Despite this, misconceptions still linger, with a BDO survey revealing the mistaken idea that apprenticeships can harm career progression when often the polar opposite is true due to the commitment it shows to a profession and organisation.
Thankfully, business leaders, industry bodies and organisations are leading by example, showcasing the success of apprenticeship schemes and how they provide an effective pathway into many industries.
The first step for many organisations has been outreach; many misconceptions are generational, with a parent’s experience being communicated to a child despite the fundamental changes to the scheme that have been made.
Businesses have increasingly promoted their apprenticeship schemes at job fairs, on their careers pages and with insight programmes, often taking the form of assemblies or school and sixth form visits to showcase the career offers a business can provide for an apprentice.
This is also used as an opportunity to showcase the work that has already been undertaken, with apprentice stories, successes and experiences being presented to people.
That aspect of showing real stories is an essential part of attracting talented people into an organisation for whom university may not necessarily be an ideal option or even an option at all.
This, alongside increasing the number of apprenticeship positions and offering longer-term higher-level qualifications can show that apprentices are an ideal way to start a career as you can earn whilst you learn and develop your skills and qualification around what you do best.


The Importance of Physical Fitness Programs for Firefighters DOI:https://doi.org/10.37359/JOPE.V33(2)2021.1153 Keywords:firefighter, physical fitness program, health, competency Abstract Physical fitness is a major factor affecting firefighters’ ability to perform under harsh circumstances. This study aimed to investigate the importance of considering a physical fitness program for firefighters and determine whether such a program should be mandated to create a safe and efficient work environment. A survey was conducted to observe the existing fitness program impacts on firefighters’ fitness level, their satisfaction with the program, and their opinion upon mandating the program. The study showed that firefighters’ fitness levels differed significantly depending on whether the firefighters were subjected to a fitness program or not. The majority (73%) of the respondents support mandating a physical fitness program and encouraged such a program to be included in a school degree plan. However, more than half of the participants (57%), evaluated their fitness program as inaccurate. Hence, fitness program components must be thoroughly structured to enhance the program competency. Recommendations from the respondents were focused on facilitating Civil Defense Centers with gyms, proper gymnastic equipment, and professional trainers.


Energy Toolbase has launched its newest financing integration partner, Sustainable Capital Finance (SCF), on the ETB Developer platform. This partnership enables ETB Developer users to instantly generate power purchase agreements (PPA) financing quotes for commercial and industrial (C&I) and nonprofit solar+storage projects without leaving the platform through SCF’s PPA solution.
Energy Toolbase’s modeling platform supports project developers, energy organizations and Fortune 500 companies in accurately and transparently modeling the avoided cost of solar+storage projects. Additionally, the software allows users to configure any type of project financing solution, such as a cash purchase, PPA, lease or loan.
With ETB’s Developer’s newest financing integration feature, users can seamlessly generate complete financing quotes that are integrated with avoided cost and project cash flows. This allows project developers to streamline their workflow of generating an indicative quote by eliminating the need to go between multiple applications and ultimately, expedite the process of modeling, optimizing their financing solution, and deploying projects.
SCF is a third-party financier that works directly with solar integrators and energy consumers to provide PPA solutions for commercial, nonprofit and municipal projects. SCF makes PPA financing more accessible to C&I and nonprofit sectors by providing solutions for projects 100 kW and up. In addition to project financing, acquisition and ownership, SCF develops projects in over 18 states and works with over 200 EPC and developer partners.
“We’re particularly excited to be launching our financing integration with an industry leader like Sustainable Capital,” states Matt Cimo, manager of platform sales at Energy Toolbase. “To provide a financing option within the platform that serves a sector that has previously had very few financing options will be a game-changer for our userbase.”
“Sustainable Capital Finance has witnessed the Energy Toolbase platform evolve into one of the premier software solutions in the renewable energy space,” says Joel Binstock, SCF’s manager of origination and partnerships. “We are very excited about the opportunity to integrate our two platforms and provide a more streamlined approach to project financing for our customers. Our collaboration will further standardize the approach to solar and storage third-party financing.”


The famous British naturalist Charles Darwin pioneered the research on the theory of natural selection. While he was constantly immersed in his scientific investigations, his greatest joy was his children. Charles’ wife and first cousin, Emma Wedgwood Darwin, gave birth to 10 children, seven surviving past childhood. The Darwin children were born in this order:
William Erasmus on December 27, 1839 Anne Elizabeth on March 2, 1841 Mary Eleanor on September 23, 1842 Henrietta Emma on September 25, 1843 George Howard on July 9, 1845 Elizabeth on July 8, 1847 Francis on August 16, 1848 Leonard on January 15, 1850 Horace on May 13, 1851 Charles on December 6, 1856
Two of them, Mary and Charles, died of poor health during infancy and their daughter Annie succumbed to an illness when she was ten years old. As a father, Charles Darwin was distraught over losing Annie, scared that his relationship with his wife was the cause of their children’s illnesses.
Charles Darwin explored the concept of inbreeding in his research work, considering the effects of outcrossing among different species. His fears were not wholly confirmed as many of his offspring and their children became moderately successful in their chosen fields.
William Erasmus
The first son, William Erasmus, was named after his grandfather, Erasmus Darwin. His interests lay in the study of Psychology. He later enrolled in the same school his father had gone to after two years at the University of Edinburgh— Christ’s College, Cambridge. William was then employed as a banker at Grant and Maddison’s Union Banking Company in Southampton. His wife, Sara Price Ashburner Sedgwick, was an American. The couple had no children.
As a baby, William was one of the subjects in his father’s research on infant psychology. First, Charles observed the newly born orangutan offspring at London Zoo. Then, he chronicled the first three years of his son’s life— the infant’s facial expressions and gestures, all written in his field notebook. The records were used to compare human and animal development. Reasoning and consciousness were two areas that Charles closely investigated during the study.
Anne Elizabeth, Mary Eleanor, and Charles
Anne Elizabeth, or “Annie,” was the first daughter of the Darwins. Charles referred to her upon her passing as the “joy of the household” in his memorial piece dedicated to her. When she fell ill at the age of 10, her father brought her to the hydrotherapist, Dr. Gully. Emma was pregnant with Horace at the time and could accompany them. Annie died of tuberculosis or scarlet fever that same year, on April 23, 1851.
Mary Eleanor lived for only 23 days before her weak constitution led to her death. It remains unclear what her exact cause of death was. Meanwhile, the youngest Darwin, Charles, had Down syndrome. He also suffered from scarlet fever and perished at 18 months.
Henrietta Emma
Henrietta, or “Etty,” was the first daughter Charles and Emma had who lived to adulthood. As the second daughter of the family, she had a close bond with her older sister, Annie, who died when she was eight years old. Etty was a productive editor in her time, having assisted her father in proofreading his papers. Notably, she aided him while he wrote
The Descent of Man, which was printed in 1871. She also contributed to the memorialization of her parents by editing The Autobiography of Charles Darwin, released in 1887. In 1904, she also joined in the publication process of Emma Darwin, Wife of Charles Darwin: A Century of Letters, a compilation of her mother’s writings.
Etty wed Richard Buckley Litchfield on August 31, 1871. He was a well-known philanthropist in his time. They, too, had no children, and Richard eventually died on January 11, 1903, 20 years before Etty’s death.
George Howard
George Howard was the fifth child of the family. He was an esteemed astronomer, mathematician, and barrister in his time. Much like his father, George was an accomplished researcher, completing an in-depth analysis of tides entitled
The Tides and Kindred Phenomena in the Solar System in 1884. The extensive work examined how the Earth-Moon system was affected by tidal friction. Another similarity he had with Charles Darwin was his contributions to the discussion on the origin of the moon, a parallel to his father’s major role in the discovery of the origin of life on earth. Elizabeth
Samantha Evans, the editor of
Darwin and Women: A Selection of Letters, wrote about the different descriptions of the Darwin family regarding Elizabeth. She was the second daughter to reach adulthood and was different from Henrietta, who was outgoing and social. Her developmental delays in childhood gave her a milder personality and made her a more sensitive woman. One of her good friends was the wife of her brother Francis: Amy Ruck. Amy died soon after her union with Francis, and this concerned Emma Darwin as Amy was one of the few people Elizabeth often talked to. Her mother alluded this to her quiet nature, which was unusual in their noisy family. Francis
Francis was an accomplished botanist and naturalist, much like Charles Darwin. The similarities between father and son allowed them to work alongside each other as the two investigated plant movements by conducting a series of experiments. They wrote the book
The Power of Movement in Plants together, published in 1880. After Charles passed away, Francis released an expanded edition including Insectivorous Plants in 1888.
The two discovered auxin together during their investigation into phototropism. In 1875, Francis was nominated by Charles to join the Linnean Society of London, a group dedicated to the natural sciences. He then became a Fellow of the Society of London and the Royal Society. His close relationship with his father allowed him to, later on, edit the
Autobiography of Charles Darwin, published in 1887.
Concerning his personal life, Francis first married Amy Ruck, who he buried four days after she gave birth to their son Bernard. Then, Francis fell in love with a colleague at Newnham College, Ellen Wordsworth Crofts. They wed in 1883. She, too, died soon after, in 1903. After this, Francis married a widow called Lady Florence Henrietta Fisher.
Leonard
Leonard was the fourth son born to Emma and Charles. He believed he was the least intelligent as his brothers, Frank, George, and Horace, had all become fellows at the Royal Society. He opted instead to belong to the Royal Engineers, Royal Geographical Society, and the British Eugenics Society, finding his fulfillment as an economist and politician. Leonard Darwin is also a historic figure in evolutionary science as he mentored Sir Ronald Fisher, who contributed to the foundations of modern statistical science. The famous statistician dedicated his book entitled
The Genetical Theory of Natural Selection which was published in 1930, to Leonard. Horace
As the youngest child to grow up until adulthood, Horace was cherished by his family members. Leonard thought of him as the sibling who would become successful out of the brood. This would prove to be true as Horace became an accomplished engineer and scientist. Like his brothers Frank and George, he joined the Fellow of the Royal Society in 1903. He also served his country during World War I as part of the Ministry of Munitions. He was knighted in 1918 for contributions to the war effort.
Horace married Emma Cecilia “Ida” Farrer in January 1880. She founded the Central Association for the Care of the Mentally Defective. The organization was renamed the Central Association for Mental Welfare in 1921. They had three children together: Erasmus Darwin IV, Ruth Frances Darwin, and Emma Nora Darwin.


Yourfriend has given you $25 off electricity or natural gas by enrolling with AEPEnergy. When you enroll on one of our plans by accepting your friend’spersonalized invitation below,
you’llearn a $25 bill credit for both yourself and your friend too–it’s a win-win!
Many consumers have the power to choose an energy supplier like AEP Energy to manage the supply portion of their energy bills. Energy suppliers can offer market-based rates that may be lower than the utility. When you choose AEP Energy you enjoy secure energy supply prices while receiving the same service and bill from your local utility. Here’s how it works:
Energy suppliers, like AEP Energy, purchase power from power generating companies and sell it to you.
Your local utility delivers energy service to your home, reads your meter, sends you a monthly statement, and offers maintenance and emergency services. AEP Energy’s charges are listed as a separate line item on your local utility’s bill.
With Energy Choice, you can receive price protection on your electricity and natural gas supply while receiving the same service from your local utility.


You may have come across several parenting tips over time. It would be pertinent to mention here that every parenting tip might emphasize one aspect of parenthood. A parenting tip could be about raising a gifted child, a difficult child, a teen, or a toddler. You should rest assured that
co-parenting tips for a divorced couple would ensure the proper upbringing of their children. Let us delve on a couple of co-parenting tips that would ensure their kids would be okay. Protecting your child
The best co-parenting tip would be that your child should be your ultimate priority. It would imply that despite you seeking a divorce from your spouse, you should ensure that your children have been safe and secure from various kinds of parental conflicts. You should rest assured that hearing you fight with your spouse or making the children feel about the impending divorce before you announce it would make them become negative in life and develop destructive feelings. Chances would be higher about your children blaming themselves for the divorce. Despite your children having an idea about the conflict, it would be in their best interest to offer a good explanation to them.
Importance of communication
If you were unable to communicate as a family, you should rest assured that problems would become imminent. Therefore, the need for communicating as a family has been deemed of great importance. You need to put aside your differences with your spouse and look forward to coming together as a single unit. You should gather your children and explain with complete honesty about you seeking a divorce. You should tell them about the situation is sad for the entire family. However, you would still search for the best possible way to lead a normal life with your children. It would be essential to listen to your children. It would be vital to encourage them to speak their mind or ask questions.


January 29, 2021 | Dan Low
When it rains, it pours. That’s not always the case here in southern California. Yet when the rain does pour, we feel a blend of amazement and gratitude. At this time of year (with colder temperatures and higher elevations), rain in our neighborhoods translates into snow on the mountains (a welcome sight for snowboarders and skiers!).
Speaking to an audience needing a fresh reminder that God rules supremely, Isaiah envisions both of these elements (55:10-11): “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Just as the rain and the snow graciously provide for our physical needs, the word that God sends to and through us effectively fulfills his good plans. Despite how things may seem, the truth of God always prevails. The word that God speaks never misses the target.
In a day when there is so much confusion about truth, the divisions within our nation as well as within our households have become incredibly taxing – even toxic. Today is a crucial moment for us to remember that God is true (Romans 3:4), that Jesus is the truth (John 14:6), and that the Spirit of truth guides us into all truth (John 16:13). As the pillar and foundation of truth (1 Timothy 3:15), God expects us to mirror reality in what we say and how we live. As we tell and live the truth before others, the world will discover that the God of heaven always does what he says on earth.


Today’s chart comes from VettaFi. Fixed income exchange traded funds (aka ETFs) have taken in over $1 trillion in assets over the last seven years, and only had three months of outflows.
We use these products instead of mutual funds due to their lower costs, increased liquidity, and high level of transparency. As demonstrated by their tremendous growth, it appears the markets agree with us.


If you love your morning cup of coffee and enjoy the convenience of a single-serve coffee maker like Keurig or Nespresso, you’re not alone. In 2020,27 percent of all coffee drinkers relied on these machines to deliver their perfect blend. However, single-use plastic coffee pods are bad for the environment. If you toss the capsules into the trash, they end up in landfills, where they’ll eventually release toxins that pollute land and oceans and kill marine life.
To combat this problem, some companies are making sustainable pod options. However, not all coffee pods are environmentally-friendly - some recycling centers don’t process them, and if you don’t recycle them properly, you can ruin an entire recycling collection.


We helped HealthFuture, LLC, an Oregon-based healthcare consortium, address rising supply costs without impacting patient outcomes. Doing so required consortium-wide consensus among clinical stakeholders and a compelling argument for why vendors should lower prices.
By focusing on cardiac rhythm management devices, Supply chain leaders were able to build a compelling argument for favorable contract terms and lower costs with their suppliers with a recognized savings of $450K.
Standardized CRM devices to drive down costs
Saved $450,000 within 4 months
Engaged physicians using clinical research and evidence-based value analyses
“Lumere gives us the ability to approach physicians with credible information. We can build trust early on and set the stage for future discussions.”
Libby Brown, Regional Manager, HealthFuture


Inadequate health insurance coverage can be a barrier to access health services, from simple laboratory tests to medical procedures. In addition, the Covid-19 has challenged our healthcare system where rising costs were already a major concern. How to deal with this and how should we prepare for medical emergencies?
Asistensi Digital Healthcare Plans asistensi, a global digital healthcare company that offers accessible digital end-to-end healthcare plans, has recently launched in the Philippines with a focus on providing healthcare coverage to families of migrant workers. asistensi is led by a group of healthcare professionals with nearly two decades of experience in Europe and Latin America. Given the significant population of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), the company decided to establish itself in the country with the goal of supporting migrant workers and their families with accessible quality healthcare designed specifically for them and will ultimately provide peace of mind.
Bjorn Pardo, Managing Director, asistensi Philippines said
“Every Filipino knows of someone who works overseas. Whether it’s a family member or a friend, it’s hard not to think about how challenging it must be for OFWs to juggle their many concerns while ensuring that they are able to provide financial support to those back home,”.
From Left to Right: Sean Argos, Maxicare PH CEO; Bjorn Pardo, asistensi PH Managing Director, Dr. Andrés González, asistensi Executive Chairman, Armando Baquero, Asistensi CEO during the launch of asistensi Philippines in Makati City on July 27, 2022
Most OFWs are breadwinner in their family. Unfortunately, they also faced many challenges and difficulties abroad that affects their health.
“Health is a priority but oftentimes only dealt with on a per-need basis and investments in this aspect often take the backseat to more pressing concerns. This is the gap we want to address - we want migrant workers to have the peace of mind that in the event of sudden need, their families in the Philippines can be covered by a healthcare plan that relieves them of immediate financial stress and allows them to focus on the health issues at hand,” added Pardo.
Asistensi Tele-Consultation
asistensi aims to be the Filipino migrant worker’s partner in easing financial woes related to healthcare and medical expenses. The company offers migrant workers, or OFWs, a new way to express their love and care for their family alongside quality, reliable, and affordable healthcare.
Based in Spain, asistensi sets itself apart from other companies that offer healthcare plans across the world by utilizing the advantage of technology and making comprehensive healthcare accessible to anyone who may need it. Envisioning accessible healthcare to everyone, they aim to give migrants the much needed peace of mind when it comes to their family’s health, and more headroom for their personal and professional growth.
asistensi Healthcare Plans
You may choose and purchase digital asistensi healthcare plans online from any country. With secure online payment, 100% digital onboarding, instant enrollment of dependents, the non-requirement for tedious medical admission exams and coverage including pre-existing conditions up to 85 years old. Family and relatives back home are eligible to unlimited Telemedicine 24/7, Ambulance Service, Home and In-clinic Primary Care, Home and In-clinic Laboratory Tests, Medication Delivery, Access to Major Hospitals, and Hospitalization and Surgery coverage.
🩺100% online registration
🩺Plans starting at P866/month
🩺No prior medical exam required
🩺Eligibility up to age 85
asistensi has partnered with local medical leaders such as Hi-Precision Diagnostics, Argonix, Home Healthcare, Lifeline 16911 and its primary HMO partner, Maxicare. asistensi’s plans is broader compared to other services. With eligibility up to 85 years old, coverage for pre-existing conditions, services are available 24/7 Mondays through Sundays with a 96% satisfaction in response time for as low as P866.00 a month for their digital healthcare plans.
Aside from its affordable packages, another great thing about asistensi is the ease at which consumers can avail of health services. Once a beneficiary feels unwell or has an emergency, asistensi can be reached through the
asistensi Philippines mobile application or via the call center at +632-8280-1066.
Asistensi’s medical doctors then perform the necessary assessments on patients following triage protocols to determine the best next step. Once the next steps are determined and the claim is completed, asistensi will cover costs according to the beneficiary’s entitlement. Learn more about asistensi and find out which plan works best for you and your family at https://asistensi.com.ph/.


Researchers in the UK have looked at the impact of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic on the population birth outcomes in 2020, detailing the experiences of the expectant mothers from immunization rates for babies to self-reported levels of stress and anxiety in the mothers, compared to pre-COVID years.
A pre-print version of the research paper is available on the
medRxiv* server.
Hope Jones and colleagues observe that while implemented public health and non-pharmaceutical interventions (i.e., social distancing, lockdowns, self-isolation) were effective in controlling the virus spread, these measures also imposed significant changes in primary and secondary care services, such as the care provided to pregnant women and young mothers.
In the current study, the research team from University Medical School, Wales, Public Health Wales, Cardiff, and Cardiff University, in the United Kingdom, investigated the different impacts on the population-level birth outcomes due to the COVID-19, assessing the expectant women's experiences of pregnancy during this period.
They found that while the expectant women had a negative impact, this experience did not translate to adverse birth outcomes during the pandemic.
"This study aims to examine the impact of changes in maternity care due to COVID on (a) population birth outcomes including stillbirths, mortality, prematurity, birth weight, rates of Caesarean sections (C-sections) and vaccination rates before and during the pandemic and b) women's experience of pregnancy during the coronavirus pandemic." The Study
The researchers used data from SAIL Databank and performed a comparative study. The SAIL (Secure Anonymised Information Linkage) databank is a privacy-protecting trusted research environment (TRE), consisting of routinely collected population and health data (~5 million) - providing anonymized person-based data for research and analysis. The researchers inform that the data used for this study included: National Community Child Health (NCCH), Annual District Death Extract (ADDE) from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) mortality register, Patient Episode Dataset for Wales (PEDW), Welsh Demographic Service Dataset (WDSD), Welsh Longitudinal General Practice (WLGP), and COVID-19 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing data (PATD).
They assessed the population-level birth outcomes in Wales, such as stillbirths, prematurity, birth weight, and Cesarean section births - during 2016-2019, the pre-pandemic period, and during 2020.
The study comprised two parts: analysis of data from SAIL on pregnancy and birth outcomes in Wales, before and during the pandemic, and an online survey on the expectant mothers' experiences.
To address the stress questions, the researchers used the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Patients Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the General Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7).
The researchers also compared the first primary immunizations of the baby during these periods. They surveyed self-reports from 215 expectant mothers (aged 16+) on their experiences of pregnancy during the pandemic in Wales. They analyzed the qualitative survey data using codebook thematic analysis, generating themes from an open-ended question.
The findings
There were a number of significant findings in this study, including the incidence of stillbirths, preterm births, Cesarean sections, primary immunization rates, and responses to the mental health questionnaire.
Preterm mortality rates by year
2020 saw fewer births than the previous average, with no significant difference between annual outcomes including gestation and birth weight, stillbirth, rates of Cesarean sections for infants born in 2020 compared to previous years.
During the first lockdown, the researchers observed late-term births (>42 weeks gestation). During the second lockdown, they found a decrease in moderate to late preterm births (32-36 weeks gestation). Thus, a small increase in preterm mortality may be a temporal increase year on year with no association with the pandemic.
All babies received their immunizations - except a few were delayed in timing the shots (administered within 28-days of due date) at 8 weeks and 16 weeks. At 12 weeks, the babies received their shots on time.
Seventy-one percent (71%) of the mothers experienced anxiety, stress, and loneliness. Because of the pandemic-related restrictions, these mothers expected a negative impact - attending scans without their partners, giving birth alone, or minimal contact with the midwives. Most of the stressed mothers reported feeling nervous, anxious, or on edge.
Conclusions
Anxiety, pregnancy-related anxiety, and psychosocial stress among pregnant women are common. This is also associated with adverse birth outcomes, such as premature birth, low birth weight, and associated clinical complications.
However, despite maternal stress and anxiety, it did not translate into adverse birth outcomes during the COVID-19.
Across the UK and Europe, studies report regional variations and impacts in this perspective. While a similar study assessing women's pregnancy experience during the pandemic conducted in Wales was lacking, the researchers also write that combining the results of such a study with national data on objective measures of neonatal and obstetric outcomes was also not examined so far.
This throws an important light on the need for safe face-to-face maternity care and familial support, emphasizing the changes to maternity and neonatal care, as well as the direct impact of COVID-19 in Wales.
*Important Notice
medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
Journal reference:
Population birth outcomes in 2020 and experiences of expectant mothers during the COVID-19 pandemic: a 'Born in Wales' mixed methods study using routine data, Hope Jones, Mike Seaborne, Laura Cowley, David Odd, Shantini Paranjothy, Ashley Akbari, Sinead Brophy, medRxiv, 2021.08.23.21262209; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.08.23.21262209, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.08.23.21262209v1


This is the golden age of cosmology. Once a philosophical subject, cosmology has burgeoned into a precision science as ground and space-based astronomical observations supply a wealth of unprecedently precise cosmological measurements. Questions that were recently the stuff of speculation can now be analyzed in the context of rigorous, predictive theoretical frameworks whose viability is determined by observational data. To address key questions about our universe, especially at the energy scales characteristic of its earliest moments, one must invoke a theory of quantum gravity, such as string theory. Conversely, observational cosmology is our most promising window for testing fundamental theories at ultra-high energies. Continua a leggere String Theory & Cosmology: New Ideas Meet New Experimental Data


Amid market carnage related to recent Terra products, bitcoins sent to exchanges saw a brief spike on May 7, jumping more than 2% from 2,481 million to 2,532 million bitcoins. Despite the recent surge in bitcoins sent to trading platforms, the number of bitcoins on exchanges today remains lower than ever. Bitcoin continues to be removed from exchanges
Bitcoin (BTC) continues to be pulled from centralized cryptocurrency exchanges as the number is well below lows seen on November 15, 2020. 248 days earlier, March 12, 2020, the day after the infamous “Black Thursday,” there were just over 3 million bitcoins held on centralized digital device trading platforms.
During this period, the number of BTC held on the exchange fell by 15.86% on March 12, from 3 million BTC to 2.524 BTC on November 15, 2020. More recently, the number of BTC held on the exchange has been lower and in May the metric hit two significant lows.
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On May 2, 2022, data from cryptoquant.com demonstrated that there were 2.481 million BTC held on exchanges. The 2.481 million bitcoins were 1.70% lower than the number of BTCs held on November 15, 2020. However, amid the contents of the Terra blockchain and the terrausd (UST) unpeg event, there was a brief spike in BTC deposits sent to exchanges.
After the May 2 low, there was a 2% increase in BTC deposits sent to centralized crypto exchanges. But that metric changed very quickly as the May 7 high of 2.532 million bitcoin fell over the following week, down 2.21% to 2.476 million BTC.
Of the $73 billion in bitcoins held on trading platforms, 5 exchanges hold over $50 billion
At the time of writing, 2.503 million bitcoins worth $73.7 billion are held on digital device trading platforms. Data provided by Bitunivers’s Exchange Transparent Balance Rank (ETBR) indicates that Coinbase holds around 34% of bitcoin held on exchanges. The ETBR listing shows that Coinbase holds 853,530 bitcoins on the trading platform, which is valued at around $25.14 billion using current BTC exchange rates.
13.58% of the 2.503 million bitcoins held on the exchange are held by Binance. Binance is the second largest exchange, in terms of BTC holdings, as it currently controls a reserve of 340,410 BTC worth around $10 billion.
Okex ranks third in terms of BTC holdings, as the company currently holds 266,530 BTC, or 10.62% of the aggregated total. Huobi Global now ranks fourth in size, with 160,950 bitcoins held on the platform. Huobi’s BTC reserve is equivalent to 6.39% of all 2.503 million bitcoins held by the exchanges.
Crypto exchange Kraken is the fifth largest BTC holder with 102,900 bitcoins held or 4.07%. Among the top five exchanges, in terms of BTC reserves held, the group of trading platforms holds 68.66% of the 2.503 million bitcoins.
The five exchanges order 1.724 million BTC worth $50.7 billion out of a total of 2.503 million worth $73.7 billion. Although there is far less BTC held on exchanges, the number of bitcoins held by these trading platforms is largely concentrated in Coinbase, Binance, Okex, Huobi, and Kraken.
What do you think of the amount of BTC held on centralized exchanges? What do you think of the 68% held across five crypto trading platforms? Let us know what you think about this topic in the comments section below. image credit: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, cryptoquant.com data, Warning: This article is for informational purposes only. This is not a direct offer or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any product, service or company. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author shall be liable, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss enhanced or likely to have been enhanced by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.


Traditional data collection methods for a research project include focus groups, in-depth interviews and surveys. But in today’s digital world, dominated by social media, there’s a new way to explore what your audience thinks – social listening.
With over 3.6 billion users worldwide, social media provides an excellent tool for brands to engage with their target markets. However, all this activity also provides a rich source of information for brands to learn about their audiences, too, and this is where social listening plays a role.
Below, we share what social listening is and how to maximise its value for your research.
What is social listening?
Social listening is the process of analysing the conversations, activity and trends across social media platforms, such as Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, TikTok and Facebook, to gain an understanding of the market and inform strategic decisions.
Social listening can be broken down into three levels of depth:
Social media monitoring Social media monitoring
Social media monitoring is the process of keeping track of the metrics directly relevant to your brand. These could include your brand or product mentions, those of your competitors or related hashtags or keywords. Typically providing quantitative data, social media monitoring can be used to engage appropriately with your audience, respond to queries and flag concerns.
Social listening Social listening
Social listening gathers not only responses to your brand, products or services but also social media activity on broader industry trends and relevant events. It also goes further than the surface data obtained from social media monitoring, seeking to understand the sentiment behind the data to gain a more comprehensive appreciation of the market for better-informed future strategies.
Social intelligence Social intelligence
Social intelligence is a deeper delve that seeks to understand the influencing factors behind behaviour, reactions and sentiment. It asks the question of ‘why’. For example, why is your audience feeling this way about your product? Why are they choosing this service or another? Social intelligence requires an open mind, where all possibilities are fully explored to uncover hidden insights.
These three variations of social listening are generally not used in isolation. Depending on the research objectives, they will co-existent to some degree to provide brands with more comprehensive insights.
What are the tools needed for social listening?
Social listening can be completed ad-hoc with a manual review of social platforms and the analytics they provide directly. This process may include exploring hashtags, brand handles, trending topics, and influencers.
However, it is worth investing in a bespoke tool when extracting, compiling and analysing large volumes of social media data. Tools, such as Brandwatch
, Netbase Quid or Sprinkler , use AI and machine learning to provide consumer intelligence and trend spotting. These tools evaluate millions of historic and current conversations across numerous social media platforms to provide insights on relevant patterns and trends.
How to get the best value from social listening tools
AI and machine learning social listening tools provide access to this impressive pool of data and draw immense value from real-time conversations and historic data across a multitude of social media platforms.
But, like any AI- or machine-driven tool, the input of human expertise remains imperative to optimise the data provided.
Machines are excellent at following directions to sift through vast amounts of information. Equally, they offer an efficient option for organising this data and making it manageable. What they lack are insight and contextual decision-making abilities. These capabilities require human input – experienced analysts who can design structures and templates to instruct machine processes and draw conclusions from the results they deliver.
To maximise value, the framework for using these tools must be carefully configured from the outset. For example, human analysts need to input clear objectives, questions and keywords for the data collection. The target market’s word use must be considered, their language and localised use of key terminology. The type of output, such as qualitative or quantitative data or a combination of both, must also be established.
This clarity on all aspects of the social listening process will optimise how the data is collected and compiled, supporting more valuable insights for the research.
What are the key benefits that social listening provides?
Social listening offers several distinct benefits compared to more traditional research methods.
For example:
An immense volume of near real-time, accessible online data Increased authenticity, with data being created in the participants ‘natural habits’ without the influence or incentive of an interview Potential cost savings due to a lack of recruitment requirements and freely available online data The ability to study a more diverse range of respondents, including those that may be otherwise difficult to recruit The option to combine qualitative and quantitative analysis, improving the depth and subtleties of the study
Before the pandemic, this form of market research was largely overlooked, with brands and researchers favouring methods such as surveys, focus groups and interviews. However, when the lockdowns restricted in-person research, social listening had the opportunity to showcase its potential. Now that many market researchers and brands have experienced its advantages, it is likely to remain an option used in conjunction with other methods moving forward.
How can Mission Translate help?
At Mission Translate, we specialise in supporting the market research sector with its language and research requirements. Alongside our translation, transcription and interpreting support, we offer a full suite of research services, including social listening, designed to support your insights projects and delivered by highly experienced research professionals.
Please get in touch with our team to find out more or to discuss your specific requirements for your next project.


Shareholder David Goldman recently completed 20 hours of a volunteer lawyer program created to assist the Rhode Island District Court in the adjudication of tenancy and eviction cases.
As set out by Chief Judge Jeanne E. LaFazia, the program’s goal is to provide tenants facing eviction with legal advice at the courthouse in negotiating payment plans, move-out dates, or other tenancy matters just prior to their District Court hearings, in what was anticipated to be a surge in cases in early September of 2020 as certain pandemic-related benefits and assistance expired. Notably, right before the implementation of this volunteer program, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), located within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), announced the issuance of an Order under Section 361 of the Public Health Service Act to temporarily halt residential evictions to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. Much of Mr. Goldman’s volunteer work was informing tenants on the verge of eviction about this Order.
While many landlords have an attorney, the vast majority of residential tenants facing eviction are not represented by a lawyer, which was true even before the pandemic. Mr. Goldman’s work gave a voice to many low-income tenants who otherwise would not have received any legal advice, and enabled many of them to remain in their homes for another few months while they attempt to recover from the financial fallout of lost income due to unemployment or reduced hours related to Covid-19.
At CMBG3, our commitment to the community is not measured in words. Rather, it is measured in deeds. For more about CMBG3’s Pro Bono program, please visit us.


There is immense joy in bringing a newborn into a family. However, before delivery, pregnancy comes with various physical changes, some of which may cause discomfort to the mother, while others may affect the unborn baby. Skin conditions are among these pregnancy-related changes that you can experience while expecting.
Numerous common skin conditions can occur during pregnancy. They can result from either hormonal changes, pregnancy-related causes, or preexisting causes. You may encounter any of these conditions during pregnancy, and according to the expert dermatologist Dr. Neda Mehr, they are likely to resolve immediately after delivery or later after breastfeeding. Let us have a look at some of these skin conditions among pregnant women, shall we?
1. Melasma/Chloasma
Melasma also called “mask of pregnancy,” results from excess melanin production, referred to as hyperpigmentation during pregnancy. It affects nearly 50-75% of pregnant women. Endocrinological changes during pregnancy result in the production of significantly large quantities of melanin. The increased melanin results in hyperpigmentation that appears as dark spots in various parts of the skin.
Melasma is more common among darker-skinned women due to the possession of more melanin than light-skinned women. However, hyperpigmentation is more prominent in fairly-skinned people than the dark-skinned.
You should not be worried about mask of pregnancy because it is a harmless and temporary condition. It can disappear immediately after delivery or after breastfeeding.
2. Prurigo of Pregnancy
Prurigo of pregnancy refers to harmless tiny, itchy bumps or rash that can occur when you are expecting. It affects approximately 1 in 300 pregnant women. Prurigo can occur at any stage of pregnancy but is more common during the second and third trimesters. The itchy bumps are common around the arms, abdomen, or legs.
You can relieve prurigo symptoms by applying topical steroids, wearing comfortable clothing, and using itch-free moisturizers.
Prurigo of pregnancy does not cause any danger to the fetus, and it can resolve after delivery or after some months post-delivery.
3. Pruritic Urticarial Papules and Plaques of Pregnancy (PUPPP)
PUPPP is a condition that affects nearly 1 in 150 pregnant women, causing pale red to pink bumps or pimple-like spots of varied sizes on the skin. It mainly occurs during the last trimester and can result in itchiness or burning sensation in the affected area. PUPPP is likely to affect stretched areas of your skin, including the abdomen, legs, arms, and buttocks.
PUPPP is likely to affect some women more than others due to risk factors such as:
First pregnancy High blood pressure Extreme weight gain Multiples pregnancy Caucasian descent
Some of the measures that you can take to reduce PUPPP include:
Apply itch-free moisturizers Take itch-relieving baths Apply cool, wet compressions Avoid using harsh chemicals, including soap, on areas affected by PUPPP Wear comfortable clothing 4. Stretch marks
Even though everyone can have stretch marks, they are more common during pregnancy, affecting nearly 9 out of 10 pregnant women. It results from the extra stretched skin or overweight that occurs in pregnancy. Stretch marks are likely to develop in your abdomen, thighs, buttocks, and breasts. Dermatologists advise that stretch marks occurrence during pregnancy mainly depends on one’s pregnancy and genetics. Proper hydration using appropriate moisturizers is recommendable to control the occurrence of stretch marks. However, stretch mark occurrence may be out of control during pregnancy.
5. Acne
Acne can appear in your skin during pregnancy for the first time, or it may worsen. It is during the first and second trimesters. A rise in androgen hormones is the cause of acne during pregnancy as it results in more sebum production that can clog your pores and result in acne.
You can apply several strategies, including the following, to prevent or manage acne:
Wash your face regularly Use appropriate moisturizers Minimize use of makeups Keep your hair clean and avoid your hair touching the face. Properly hydrate your body Avoid picking at pimples Exercise regularly
If your acne condition gets worse, please visit a dermatologist for expert advice and treatment. Otherwise, acne will probably resolve when your hormone levels normalize.
6. Skin tags
Skin tags are benign skin growths that can occur during pregnancy. Research has shown that approximately 12% of pregnancies result in skin tags. You will likely get them on any skin tag sites such as armpits, chest, neck, groin, or under your breasts.
The development of skin tags during pregnancy is associated with hormonal changes like increased leptin and estrogen levels, increased fat tissues, and increased friction due to weight gain.
Even though they are harmless, you can decide to visit a doctor for removal if you feel uncomfortable.
7. Varicose Veins
Pregnancy usually results in weight gain. The increased weight and uterine pressure exert a lot of pressure in your veins, leading to varicose veins. The condition is likely to cause pain, and therefore, you need to take some precautionary measures to manage this condition.
These include:
Elevating for legs for better blood flow Reducing the amount of time spend on sitting or standing Engaging in exercise regularly Proper hydration 8. Cholestasis of pregnancy
Cholestasis of pregnancy is a condition that leads to the itching of your skin. It mainly occurs during the third trimester, resulting from a liver condition that leads to the disruption of bile flow. The condition can cause itchiness in your entire body, but it may be severe in your hands and feet. Besides, cholestasis of pregnancy can result in jaundice, nausea, and loss of appetite.
You will be at more risk of cholestasis of pregnancy if you have a family history of the condition, pregnant with multiples, or you have a history of liver disease.
This condition can harm the fetus or the mother. The complications caused to the unborn baby can be more severe than for the mother. Some of the risks to the unborn baby include:
Preterm birth Lung complications that result from taking in meconium Stillbirth-death of the unborn baby before delivery
Besides the usual body changes, skin conditions are among the occurrences that you may encounter during pregnancy. Some skin conditions result in itchiness, while others are non-itchy and may cause the darkening of your skin. Despite being harmless, some of the skin conditions are painful or cause discomfort, requiring medical attention. It is essential that you understand the various skin conditions during pregnancy to differentiate the regular occurrences from the strange happenstances that need crucial medical attention.


Activation of innate immunity by danger signals emanating from external and internal sources is a crucial first-line defense mechanism. However, excessive and chronic activation of innate immunity can lead to autoinflammatory and autoimmune disorders.
The primary focus of my laboratory is to investigate how innate immune responses contribute to the pathology of Sjogren’s syndrome and Sarcoidosis. Our lab integrates human clinical research with disease-relevant animal model systems to gain in-depth knowledge of disease mechanisms. We feel this is key for developing novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to treat autoimmune and autoinflammatory disorders.


Walking and moving around large hospitals can feel like being stuck in a trap. For patients and visitors, finding the way from one point to another inside a visually-bland medical complex exacerbates an already stressed mental state. One landscape architecture researcher at West Virginia University has suggested a possible solution: Let nature in.
Research conducted by Shan Jiang showed that introducing nature into large hospitals can humanize the institutional environment and reduce the stress of patients, visitors, and healthcare providers. Jiang's findings were published in the 'Health Environments Research and Design Journal'.
An associate professor at the Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, Jiang utilized immersive virtual environments - digitally-created "worlds" that users are engrossed in - for a controlled experiment that asked participants to complete various wayfinding tasks.
All participants saw the same hospital layout and room arrangements. However, for one group, participants encountered large windows and nature views among the corridor walls. In contrast, the control group saw solid walls without any daylight or natural views. Participants in the greenspace group used shorter time and walked less distance to complete wayfinding tasks.
"In terms of spatial orientation and wayfinding, window views of nature and small gardens can effectively break down the tedious interiors of large hospital blocks," Jiang said, "and serve as landmarks to aid people's wayfinding and improve their spatial experience."
The study also revealed that participants' mood states, particularly anger and confusion, were "significantly relieved" in the greenspace group.
Based on prior research, it's estimated that a patient or hospital visitor must go through at least seven steps in the wayfinding process to arrive at the final destination. The Center for Health Design cites wayfinding issues as an environmental stressor and a concerning topic in healthcare design.
Jiang said those factors, coupled with her own personal experiences (her family members have worked in healthcare) and others' anecdotes of feeling lost in hospitals, prompted the study.
"Large hospitals can be visually welcoming but the functionality and internal circulation are indeed complex and confusing," she said.
The study also found that green spaces situated at key decision points, such as the main corridor or junction of departmental units, can serve as landmarks that positively attract attention, aid wayfinding, and improve the navigational experience.
With a background in landscape architecture, Jiang has been interested in the immediate surroundings of people in a smaller scope, particularly the indoor-outdoor relationship and the boundaries between architecture and landscapes.
She found that gardens and plants tend to have strong therapeutic effects on people.
"You may explain such therapeutic effects from multiple perspectives: people's colour/hue preferences tend to range from blue to green, nature and plants are positive distractions that could restore people's attentional fatigue, and human beings could have developed genetic preference of greenery from evolutionary perspectives," Jiang said. "All mechanisms together contribute to the positive experience when looking at gardens and nature views."
Jiang noted that many hospitals across Europe have successfully integrated "hospital in a park" concepts. In the United States, the Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford in California features patios and window nooks in every patient room, and most rooms have direct views of a large healing garden, she said.
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Reliability of two different spiroergometric systems was investigated by comparing gas exchange measurements from two consecutive identical bicycle ergometer ramp exercise tests which were conducted after an initial habituation trial. Twenty-three healthy subjects (age: 25+/-5 years; weight: 71+/-10 kg; peak oxygen uptake: 55+/-9 ml x min(-1) x kg(-1)) took part in the study. One apparatus was a portable mixing chamber system (MetaMax I, Cortex, Leipzig, Germany), the other one a stationary spiroergometric device measuring in the breath-by-breath mode (MetaLyzer 3B, Cortex). There were no relevant systematic changes in gas exchange measurements and heart rate from test 1 to test 2. Intra-class reliability coefficients were 0.984 (oxygen uptake = VO2), 0.977 (carbon dioxide output = VCO2), and 0.973 (minute ventilation = VE) for the MetaMax I, and 0.969 (VO2), 0.964 (VCO2), and 0.953 (VE) for the MetaLyzer 3B. Bland-Altman plots revealed a slightly smaller variability of MetaLyzer 3B measurements compared to those of MetaMax I. It is concluded that the spiroergometric devices MetaMax I and MetaLyzer 3B represent reliable instruments for exercise testing in sports medical routine and research. This is important to decide if longitudinal changes in gas exchange measurements represent clinically meaningful differences in performance or merely inconsistencies of the measuring tool.


A premise of unknowing is that, while not knowing is a defining condition of life, we mostly behave as if we know.
At its most basic level, our not knowing is a truism. While each of us functions from our own individual base of knowledge, an inescapable facet of existence is that we do not know what the future holds. Perhaps not even the next moment. Much of our knowing is nothing more than pattern recognition. We hold a rough model in our heads of what reality is like and this is good enough to enable us to function efficiently most of the time.
But this pattern recognition can blind us to the novelty we navigate every day of our lives. Even when we encounter situations that seem similar to ones we have seen before, we tend to forget that each unfolding of a familiar event is unique in its own right. Our knowing forms amid a broader canvas of not knowing.


"The African conservation agenda should be owned and driven by us. Our people stand to harvest the benefits and it is also our responsibility" - H.E. Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda
The IUCN Africa Protected Areas Congress (APAC) is the first ever continent-wide gathering of African leaders, citizens, and interest groups to discuss the role of protected areas in conserving nature, safeguarding Africa’s iconic wildlife, delivering vital life-supporting ecosystem services, promoting sustainable development while conserving Africa’s cultural heritage and traditions.
Over 1500 participants are expected from across the continent to examine Africa's protected areas in the context of conserving biodiversity, delivering ecosystem services and contributing to community well-being and economic development.
Those unable to attend in person can access the congress livestreams via registering for a virtual participation pass.


All-Hazard Incident Management Team (AHIMT) fulfills an essential function in the management of, and response to provincial, First Nation, region, county and municipal emergencies, regardless of the hazard.
What is an AHIMT?
An AHMIT is a resource that enhances capabilities and capacities for preparedness, response and recovery through the provision of personnel to fulfill the incident management functions. This may include all components and functions of the Incident Command / Management Systems, an AHIMT:
Includes Commander, Command and General Staff.
Has formal assignment response roles and responsibilities.
Has pre-designated roles and responsibilities for members (identified and contracted for deployment).
Is available 24/7/365.
A timeline showing the typical timeframes for CDRO preparedness, response and operations for different types of notification and activations is shown below.
Upon arrival, the AHIMT’s Incident Commander (IC) meets with the local IC and the Agency Administrator (Executive, City Manager or Mayor, etc.) to determine what they expect from the AHIMT, and to obtain any necessary delegation of authority. The incoming IC then briefs the rest of the incoming AHIMT about their role. The AHIMT integrates as requested into the current Incident Command System (ICS) structure.
When are AHIMTs used?
Typical situations where AHIMTs are used include:
Coordination of on-scene operations.
Natural disasters, e.g., agricultural & food, environmental
Planned exercise or public event.
Public health emergency.
Technological or human caused incidents, e.g., public safety, structural, transportation, supply & distribution
What are Type 3 AHIMTs?
A Type 3 AHIMT is a multi-agency/multi-jurisdictional team used for situations that may be extended. It is formed and managed at the provincial perspective and includes a designated team of trained personnel from different departments, organizations, agencies and jurisdictions.
Type 3 AHIMTs are deployed as a team of trained and experienced personnel, representing multiple disciplines who manage complex incidents requiring a significant number of personnel. They manage incidents that extend into multiple operational periods and require a written Incident Action Plan.
AHIMIT Structure


The main goal of this project is to safely deliver connected lifestyle functionality while also improving driver attention. To achieve this we must overcome issues related to driver distraction guidelines and regulation for visual-manual interaction, meet increased consumer demand for connected lifestyle, and integrate state-of-the-art on-board driver inattention monitoring.The main expected results of this project include (1) a significant contribution to international HMI Guideline forums by performing research to influence HMI guidelines development and performance testing, (2) a major step towards safely delivered connected lifestyle functionality, and (3) improved driver inattention monitoring.
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Published: Thu 31 May 2018.
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Trauma therapy for adults and teens is used when individuals are experiencing significant symptoms following a traumatic event. When considering the best treatment for PTSD, it is important to think about Cognitive Processing Therapy, or CPT. People will often wonder, what is trauma therapy and why would it be beneficial for me? In order to…


This conference and a companion conference were held at the Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago on April 23rd to the 25th and brought together a wide range of distinguished macro economists to present their ideas and proposed contributions to the new
Handbook of Macroeconomics, which will be edited by John B. Taylor and Harald Uhlig. The widely-cited first volume of the Handbook of Macroeconomics was published in 1999 and according to the Research Papers in Economics (RePEc) is ranked first among all economics books downloaded.
Many significant economic events have occurred over the past fifteen years including the financial crisis, the Great Recession, the end of the Great Moderation, and rethinking of macroeconomic models and theories. This conference and the new Handbook address these recent issues and are sorely needed.
The agenda for the conference at the Hoover Institution is below.
Thursday, April 9
Time Content Authors Discussant 10:30 - 11:30 AM Business Cycles Edward Prescott Robert Hodrick 11:30 - 12:30 PM The Facts of Economic Growth Charles Jones Bart Hobijn 1:30 - 2:30 PM Financial and Fiscal Crises Michael Bordo
Christopher Meissner
Pierre Siklos 2:30 - 3:30 PM Solution and Estimation Methods for DSGE Models Jesús Fernández-Villaverde
Juan Rubio-Ramirez
Frank Schorfheide
Serguei Maliar 3:45 - 4:45 PM Housing and Macroeconomics Monica Piazzesi
Martin Schneider
Amir Kermani
Friday, April 10
Time Content Authors Discussant 8:30 - 9:30 AM Macroeconomic Shocks and Their Propagation Valerie Ramey Arvind Krishnamurthy 9:30 - 10:30 AM Macroeconomic Regimes and Regime Shifts James Hamilton Òscar Jordà 10:45 - 11:45 AM Recursive Contracts and Endogenously Incomplete Markets Mikhail Golosov
Aleh Tsyvinski
Pablo Kurlat 12:45 - 1:45 PM Macroeconomics and Heterogeneity (including inequality) Dirk Krueger
Kurt Mitman
Fabrizio Perri
Christopher Tonetti 1:45 - 2:45 PM Natural Experiments in Macroeconomics Tarek Hassan
Nicola Fuchs-Schündeln
Yuriy Gorodnichenko 3:00 - 4:00 PM Accounting for Business Cycles with Wedges Pedro Brinca
Varadarajan V. Chari
Patrick Kehoe
Ellen McGrattan
Peter Klenow 4:00 - 5:00 PM Environmental Macroeconomics John Hassler
Per Krusell
Anthony Smith
Charles Kolstad
Saturday, April 11
Time Content Authors Discussant 8:15 - 9:15 AM Models with Price and Wage Rigidities John B. Taylor Carl Walsh 9:15 - 10:15 AM Neoclassical Theories Gary Hansen
Lee Ohanian
John Cochrane 10:30 - 11:30 AM Factor Models for Macroeconomics James Stock
Mark Watson
Michael Bauer 12:30 - 1:30 PM Measuring Risk and Uncertainty Nick Bloom
Steven Davis
Sebastian Di Tella 1:30 - 2:30 PM Macroeconomics of Persistent Slumps Robert Hall Cosmin Ilut
If you have any questions about the event, contact Marie-Christine Slakey at slakey@stanford.edu.


AC & DC Pollution Testing Methods: Accuracy & Limitations
Pollution performance of insulator strings is key in design of towers for overhead lines and even more pressing with silicone hydrophobic surfaces whose properties respond differently to various service conditions. This presentation summarizes relevant observations and test details when evaluating insulator strings under such conditions. It also explains why the testing of hydrophobic surfaces requires further work, as now underway in IEC, and why the issue of heavy and very heavy pollution conditions remains an open question. Finally, it seeks to demonstrate how DC glass insulators with appropriate shape can outperform the USCD expected from the IEC Guide.


Dogs are incredibly common in the United States, and although most don’t pose a significant threat to others, vicious dogs can cause serious and fatal injuries to adults and children. Every year, there are over 4.5 million dog bite attacks, many of which result in severe injuries.
This issue is especially common in California, and there are an estimated 20,000 dog bite injuries in Los Angeles annually. If you suffer from a dog bite injury, you need to recover compensation for your bills. At Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we represent victims of dog bite personal injuries, and our attorneys can help you recover the damages you deserve for your medical bills and other associated expenses.
What is Considered a Vicious Dog?
In California, the legal definition of a “vicious dog” has to do with their actions and not whether people consider the dog breed vicious. Many consider pit bulls to be the most vicious dog breed, but in order for a pit bull or another dog to be labeled vicious in California, they must cause severe or fatal injuries to a human while unprovoked.
According to state code § 31603, vicious dogs in California are “Any dog that, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, inflicts severe injury on or kills a human being.” The code also states that a dog will be considered vicious if it’s “determined to be and currently listed as a potentially dangerous dog that, after its owner or keeper has been notified of this determination, continues the [potentially dangerous] behavior.”
Difference Between a Vicious Dog and a Potentially Dangerous Dog
A dog that repeatedly engages in behaviors considered potentially dangerous may be labeled vicious, but there are differences between vicious dogs and potentially dangerous dogs.
State code § 31602 outlines behaviors that may qualify as potentially dangerous. A dog may be considered potentially dangerous if it does something that requires a person to take defensive action, and the dog must be involved in two different instances within 36 months. Additionally, the dog must have taken action unprovoked, and the occurrence needs to have taken place away from the owner’s property. Also, a dog is considered potentially dangerous if they cause non-severe injuries to a human or if they cause significant or fatal injuries to a domestic animal.
California authorities handle vicious dogs and potentially dangerous dogs differently. The differences include: Termination:California counties can put down dogs considered vicious, but potentially dangerous dogs don’t face the same consequences. Removal from the dangerous dogs list:If a dog is considered potentially dangerous, it can eventually be removed from the dangerous dogs list. The dog will likely be removed from the list if they don’t engage in potentially dangerous behaviors for at least 36 months. A vicious dog cannot be removed from the dangerous dogs list. Dog ownership:When authorities label a person’s dog “vicious,” the owner may not be allowed to obtain another dog for up to three years. If authorities determine that the owner taking custody of another dog is a threat to public safety, they can deny a person’s right to own another canine for 36 months. Severe Injuries Caused by Vicious Dogs
A major difference between vicious dogs and potentially dangerous dogs is that vicious dogs cause serious or fatal injuries. California code § 31604 defines severe injuries as any physical injury that results in:
Muscle tears Lacerations causing disfigurement Injuries requiring multiple sutures Injuries requiring corrective surgery Injuries requiring cosmetic surgery Liability After a Vicious Dog Attack
California is a strict liability state, meaning that the dog’s owner is responsible for any damages the dog causes if it attacked someone unprovoked. A person can be held financially responsible for their dog’s actions even if the dog isn’t legally considered vicious. California code § 3342 says that dog owners are “liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owner’s knowledge of such viciousness.”
Owning a vicious dog can also result in significant criminal penalties. If a person owns a dangerous dog and the canine injures or kills a human, the dog owner could face felony charges.
Why You Need a California Dog-Bite Attorney
You need legal representation for your dog injury case. A California dog-bite attorney will help you recover damages by:
Determining the dog’s owner Proving the dog attacked you unprovoked Drawing a direct connection between the attack and your injuries Either settling or winning your case in court
You may be able to recover compensation for medical bills — such as surgeries, prescriptions, physical therapy, and any other medical expenses — lost wages, loss of future earnings, pain and suffering, and more.
Here at Sally Morin Personal Injury Lawyers, we help Californians maximize the amount they can receive in compensation for personal injuries. Call our dog-bite lawyers today at 877-380-8852.


The aim of the study. Investigation of the effect of vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG), which is an effective method of treating patients with morbid obesity on serum paraoxonase (PON) activity.Material and methods. Serum PON activity was measured in twenty eight morbidly obese patients 6 and 12 months after surgery. PON activity was also measured in the serum and liver of rats maintained on a restricted diet for one month.Results. We found that VBG-induced significant reduction in body weight and serum PON activity at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Similar patterns of decreases in serum paraoxonase activity in obese patients after VBG were observed in A, AB and B paraoxonase/esterase phenotypes. After VBG, several clinically relevant events occurred: a) a decrease of serum triacylglycerol concentration was observed; b) no significant changes in total serum cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations were found; c) serum HDL-cholesterol concentration increased slightly.Paraoxonase activity in the serum of rats maintained on a restricted diet, which induced approximately 30% and 50% of rat body weight and fat mass loss, respectively, was lower than in control animals.Conclusions. This study indicates that after VBG significant decreases in serum paraoxonase activity occur in obese subjects. It is likely that less food ingestion and possibly a different type of food consumed by the obese subjects after VBG (compared to type of food consumed before surgery) may contribute to decreases in serum PON activity.